Council approves Eagle’s Landing project

May 7, 2014

A proposed single-family residential development in Southwest Cape Coral and a two-year renewal agreement with Cultural Park Theatre Company were unanimously approved by City Council at Monday's regular meeting.

The 14 single-family residential development, known as Eagle's Landing, will be located on a vacant 4.8-acre tract of land in Block 4752 between Southwest 18th Place and Southwest 19th Place, south of Beach Parkway and just east of Aqualinda Boulevard. It would consist of residential lots between 10,000 and 12,000 square feet around a central 35,000 square foot "green" recreational area.

BJM Consulting president Joe Mazurkiewicz, representing owners Willy Garcia and Cortina Kermel, informed council that the amenities for the recreational area would be determined by the homeowners' association after it is formed. The association also would be responsible for maintaining the recreational area.

All city utilities are installed and available for the project and no new roadways are required to access all 14 home sites. The density of the project is below the maximum of 4.4 units per acre. All surrounding areas are a mix of vacant and developed single-family homesites.

Councilmember Jim Burch said, "I don't have a problem with this project, but I always think it's a shame when a large parcel is developed for single-family homes when this city needs more than that. We can't go in there and buy that, so there's nothing we can do about it at this point."

After obtaining unanimous approval by the city's Planning & Zoning Commission at an April meeting, council followed through with its own unanimous approval Monday.

In other discussions Monday night, Cultural Park Theatre Company Inc. was given a two-year renewal to its agreement with the city to continue to manage Cultural Park Theatre. They city pays the non-profit the sum of $35,000 per year to operate and maintain the premisis. Any repair or maintenance issue that requires more than a $3,000 expenditure becomes the responsibility of the city.

The city and the non-profit evenly split any excess revenues at the end of the 12-month period on June 30.

Councimember Rana Erbrick asked council for permission to bring an ordinance proposal to next council meeting to bring back the Charter Review Commission. She needed one other council member to agree in order to proceed which Councilmember Rick Williams granted.

Erbrick said a petition was submitted to the City Clerk's office by a citizen requesting a charter amendment be placed on the next election ballot. Since council recently adopted a new method for council members to follow for introducing ordinances there is no definitive process in place on how to proceed.

She provided copies of similar ordinances in use by Fort Myers and Bonita Springs as possible formats for her ordinance draft.

Upon review, council will decide whether to place it on the general ballot.

A Charter Review Commission was formed in 2010 and disbanded in 2012

Council also unanimously appointed three applicants to the city's Grievance Committee. The three new members to sit on the nine-member panel are Bryan Sheen, James Powers and Jill Hiatt. The Grievance Committee handles situations brought before it by city employees.